Wednesday, July 13, 2011

The Heinrich Böll Foundation grants scholarships to approximately 1,000 undergraduates, graduates, and PhD students of all subjects and nationalities per year, who are pursuing their degree at universities, universities of applied sciences (‘Fachhochschulen’), or universities of the arts (‘Kunsthochschulen”). We expect our scholarship recipients to have excellent academic records, to be socially and politically engaged, and to have an active interest in the basic values of the foundation: ecology and sustainability, democracy and human rights, self determination and justice.

SCHOLARSHIPS

Who is Eligible?

Eligibility & Guiding Principles

In accordance with the guidelines of the German Ministry for Education and Research (BMBF) as well as the Foreign Office (AA), scholarships are awarded by the Scholarship Department to German and foreign students.

STUDENTS

A) The following requirements apply to German citizens, EU citizens and students who have gained their university entrance qualifications from a German school:

The maintenance scholarships which are awarded to German citizens, EU citizens and students who have gained their university entrance qualifications from a German school will be calculated on the same basis as BAföG, depending on your parent’s income and/or your own income and personal assets. Irrespective of this, an independent book grant of 80 € per month will be awarded to all successful applicants.

You are entitled to receiving a scholarship if you are enrolled at a state or state-recognized institution of higher education (university, college or equivalent) in Germany, Switzerland or in a member state of the EU.

Earliest application date: if you intend to enrol for a Bachelor degree, for a Diploma, Magister or State Examination, you can apply for a scholarship before your studies begin, but the earliest date for receiving payment will be the beginning of the first semester. We advise you to make your application in time for the start of your studies.

Latest application date: within the prescribed maximum period of study you should still have at least four semesters before your final examinations. That way, the foundation can support you for at least three semesters past your successful application.

The scholarship is open to undergraduate students, only. Graduate students in a Master's programme can only receive a scholarship if they have previously been funded by Heinrich Böll Foundation during their undergraduate studies.

B) The following requirements apply to foreign applicants (except EU citizens) who wish to study in Germany:

You must be enrolled at a state-recognized university or college (e.g. Fachhochschule) in Germany at the time the scholarship payments begin.

You should provide proof that you have already graduated with an initial professional qualification. This programme mainly supports students aiming for a Masters degree.

You need a good knowledge of German, and we kindly ask you to provide proof of your proficiency. Please note that the selection workshop (interviews, group discussions) will normally be in German. Exceptions (interview in English) are, however, possible.

Unfortunately, the current guidelines specify that we can not support foreign scholarship holders for stays abroad in third countries for more than four weeks.

DOCTORAL STUDIES (PhD)

A) The following requirements apply to German applicants, applicants from other EU countries and PhD-students who have gained their university entrance qualifications from a German school:

Approval: applicants for a PhD-scholarship must hold a Master’s degree or equivalent from an officially accredited institution of higher education in Germany or abroad. Furthermore, they must have been accepted as a doctoral student by an institution of higher education in Germany or in another EU country.

Duration of funding: normally, the scholarship will be awarded for the period of two years, plus a maximum extension of two half years, if applicable.

B) The following requirements apply to PhD-students from outside the EU:

Approval: applicants must hold a Master’s degree or equivalent and must have been accepted as a doctoral student by a German institution of higher education.

2. German students and students who have received their university entrance qualification from a German school (‘Bildungsinländer_innen’) and are pursuing their FIRST university degree

all subjects; university, university of applied sciences (‘Fachhochschule”), or university of the arts (`Kunsthochschule`)

degrees: Bachelor’s, Diploma or State Examination

You can apply for a scholarship before your begin your studies or within the first three semesters (at the time of application).

We especially encourage first-generation students, students with a migrant background and students at universities of applied sciences (‘Fachhochschulen`).

3. German students and students who have received their university entrance qualification from a German school (‘Bildungsinländer_innen’) and are studying a MINT subject (mathematics, informatics, natural sciences, or technical subjects), especially with an environmental focus (e.g. climate studies, renewable energies etc.)

all subjects; university or university of applied sciences (‘Fachhochschule`) degree: Master’s (you must already have obtained a first university degree)

You can apply before you begin your Master’s programme or within the first semester (at the time of application).

4. Students from the EU (regional focus: Central and Eastern Europe)

all subjects; university, university of applied sciences (‘Fachhochschule`), or university the arts (‘Kunsthochschule`)degree: Master’s (you must already have obtained a first university degree)

You can apply before you begin your Master’s programme or within the first semester (at the time of application).

Proficiency in German is a requirement.

5. Doctoral students from Germany or the EU (regional focus: Central and Eastern Europe)

all subjects

Applicants must provide proof that they have been accepted as a doctoral student by a German institution of higher education.

Preference will be given to dissertation projects related to the working areas of the Heinrich Böll Foundation.

2. German students and students who have received their university entrance qualification from a German school (‘Bildungsinländer_innen’) pursuing their FIRST university degree

all subjects; university, university of applied sciences (‘Fachhochschule’), or university of the arts (‘Kunsthochschule’) degrees: Bachelor’s, Diploma or State Examination

You can apply for a scholarship before you begin your studies or within the first three semesters (at the time of application).

3. German students and students who have received their university entrance qualification from a German school (‘Bildungsinländer_innen’) and are studying a MINT subject (mathematics, informatics, natural sciences, or technical subjects), especially with an environmental focus (e.g. climate studies, renewable energies etc.)

all subjects; university or university of applied sciences;

degree: Master’s (you must already have obtained a first university degree)

You can apply before you begin your Master’s programme or within the first semester (at the time of application).

4. Students from the EU (regional focus: Central and Eastern Europe)

all subjects; university, university of applied sciences (‘Fachhochschule’), or university of the arts (‘Kunsthochschule’); degree: Master’s (you must already have obtained a first university degree)

You can apply before you begin your Master’s programme or within the first semester (at the time of application).

Proficiency in German is a requirement.

5. Students from outside the EU (regional focus: Central and Eastern Europe, CIS, Middle East, conflict regions around the globe)

all subjects; university, university of applied sciences (‘Fachhochschule’), or university of the arts (‘Kunsthochschule’); degree: Master’s (you must already have obtained a first university degree)

You can apply before you begin your Master’s programme or within the first semester (at the time of application).

Basic knowledge of German is a requirement (if a scholarship is granted, additional German courses can be financed).

6. Doctoral students coming from countries outside the EU wishing to do their PhD studies in Germany (regional focus: Central and Eastern Europe, CIS, Middle East, conflict regions around the globe)

all subjects

Applicants must provide proof that they have been accepted as a doctoral student by a German institution of higher education.

Preference will be given to dissertation projects related to the working areas of the Heinrich Böll Foundation.

Basic knowledge of German is a requirement (if a scholarship is granted, additional German courses can be financed).